Open access critic has major publisher in crosshairs

By Jake New, Assistant EditorRead more by Jake New February 18th, 2014

Open access journal publisher MDPI, which drew criticism earlier this year after publishing a paper that Discover Magazine described as “pseudoscience,” has been added to Jeffrey Beall’s list of “predatory” publishers.

“It’ll be one of the largest publishers on my list,” Beall said. “A few of its journals have impact factors. The owner is becoming an increasingly popular and controversial figure himself and is making many enemies.”

It’s those enemies that MDPI believes is the reason it is being included on Beall’s List, however.

Shu-Kun Lin, president of MDPI, said the publisher’s sponsoring of the Scientific Spirit Prize in China, awarded by an organization called New Threads, has led to an organized defamation attempt by those who oppose New Thread’s chair, Shi-min Fang.